How prevalant is vain worship?

 

How prevalent is vain worship?

How prevalent is vain worship in our new dispensation of grace? Should vain worship be a matter of concern, since it is one if not the worst indictment that has been labeled on those who confess to know the Lord! Judging from the way the majority of us who claim to be believers in Jesus Christ accept and do anything in the name of Jesus Christ and termed them worship, I wonder if the act of vain worship is no longer applicable and anyone can do and follow anything as long as the name Jesus Christ is affiliated to it. This for me is of great concern since Jesus Christ chastised the Pharisees and Scribes and said to them:

"Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ' This people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men --- the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do." He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition” (Mark 7:6-9).

This chastisement form Jesus Christ clearly shows that, laying aside or rejecting the commandments of God and substituting them with the customs and traditions of men is vain worship. He also explained what constitutes true worship when He said; “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:22-24).

I therefore beg to ask the question, the things that we do and associating them with God are they in accordance to the stipulated laws of God whether they are spiritual, physical or moral? Or are they in accordance to the customs and traditions of men? Remember in order to avoid worshiping God in vain four things are of paramount importance.

1.     1.  True worship must be in accordance to God`s commandments

Because, the law is holy, spiritual and the commandment is holy, just and good, they are God´s manuscript , His blueprint to teach man how to live , how to do things for our own good and to please Him, as the apostle Paul rightly states; “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet" (Romans 7:7).

So although it is concluded that, a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law, nevertheless, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith, the question is asked; “ Do we then make void the law through faith?” And the logical answer is, “Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law” (Romans 7:28-31).

So for example, although one has the liberty to observe or not to observe the days that the Lord has ordained and set aside for His people to appear before Him, because it is stated clearly that, “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it” (Romans 14:5-6).

However, to disregard these appointed times and substituting them with days that are not ordained by God is a clear sign of vain worship which brings us to the second act of vain worship.

To be continued

with brotherly love

Lucius Joseph